I’m sitting up in a bed with my loves surrounding me. Everyone is asleep. Everyone is healthy. Everyone is under one roof and we have more than enough. We are blessed. Truly. More than four years ago, we were gifted with the fourth child to complete our family, and SHE was gifted with an extra chromosome. That extra chromosome has rocked our world in every way possible.

Gelli’s extra chromosome initially brought me to my knees in my faith. But as many of you know, it’s only by being brought to your knees, that you can you restore your faith into something greater than it was before.

When we began sharing Gelli’s gift of an extra chromosome with our friends and our family, we got a few reactions.

We were told that having a special baby just like her would give our family an advantage in life. We were told that she was “lucky” or what people say here is “suerte.”

We were told that “God gave us a special child, because we were special parents, and because we could “handle” it.”

We were told that Gellibean chose us to be her parents.

I think all of these statements may be a little bit correct. I do feel lucky. I’m glad she chose me to be her mom. And I think the advantage is perspective…

I was inspired to return to the keyboard today, but to be honest I have been so overwhelmed to sit down and write for the past three months.

I know. I know. I have neglected writing here, sharing, and catching up on many long overdue posts because LIFE was happening. Sometimes, LIFE can do that. It can be overwhelming.

There have been many a days in the past few months where I woke up so extremely tired feeling like I was chasing time and even like I was never going to catch up. I suppose that is what happens when you are a mom, who tries to do as much as she can, balancing life, home, parenting, family, and trying to contribute to something greater than herself.

I take so much inspiration from my sister. Thanks Maria for all your support and your love for Gellibean. Maria leads the change she wants to see…and I take my cues from both her and Gellibean.

These things… the things that are greater than myself? These are the things that usually provide the greatest inspiration…much more than I could have ever imagined.

It’s things like Best Buddies and inclusion for people with IDD. It’s things like someone sending me a message through my IG account saying that she has stumbled upon my account and that she felt like she needed to reach out.

Thank you Ciella, for reaching out. Thank you for sharing part of your story with me. I cant wait to meet you in person!

It’s meeting with Gellibean’s teacher, and learning of new antics, accomplishments, and anecdotes from her days in school.

A photo posted by BestBuddiesPHL (@bestbuddiesphl) on Nov 26, 2015 at 8:04pm PST

It is by asking for help, knowing it’s a long shot, but being gifted with many surprises a long the way by people whom you didn’t even know supported your fight.

Today, those long shots? They are what I am most grateful for. I am grateful for everyone who helped put something very special together.

So many people that were behind the scenes during this shoot are responsible for making this PSA happen. I’m grateful for Head of Media and Production, Beth, for guiding us before, during and after the shoot. She did this seamlessly with the help of her crew.

From shooting in The Rappler Studio, to very busy people taking time out of their holiday schedules, to donate their time, talent, and energy into something greater…

I am actually ashamed of how I was completely ignorant of the people I was hurting when I would use the r-word or words like it.

There is a big part of me that feels guilty about using that word before Evangelina, and maybe that’s why I feel like I need to educate people on the ill affects of using this word or words like it. Once you offer someone understanding and perspective, you offer them the opportunity to change.

And I suppose one of my greatest hopes is that when this short but powerful PSA is fully edited and out there in cyberspace ready to be shared and seen, that each and every viewer will want to take the opportunity to do the same.

I hope that it will CHANGE THE WAY WE ALL VIEW LANGUAGE…

Imagine the good we would do if each viewer would change just a little…and maybe even influence others to change a little too?

Be on the lookout for our Best Buddies End the R-Word PSA…I’ll share it here with everyone once it is completed.